Combination pencil type and heavy duty burner



3 1967 c. E. FINLEY ETAL 3,301,306

COMBINATION PENCIL TYPE AND HEAVY DUTY BURNER Filed March 23, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR' arl 5. Tinley Harry A.-7hitchcl h Z I 2 4 AT'IORN/EYS Jan. 31, 1967 c. E. FINLEY ETAL 3,301,306

COMBINATION PENCIL TYPE AND HEAVY DUTY BURNER Filed March 23, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Carl 6. Finle J B. Hitched 'y "Q A 'rrolezwiys Patented Jan. 31, 1967 3,301,306 COMBINATION PENCHJ TYPE AND HEAVY DUTY BURNER Carl E. Finley and Harry A. Mitchell, Sycamore, IlL, as-

signors to Turner Corporation, Sycamore, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 354,015 7 Claims. (Cl. 15827.4)

This invention relates generally to torches and more particularly relates to a gas burner head assembly having a movable valve assembly to provide selectively a thin pencil point type flame and a heavy duty hard flame of the blow torch type in a single torch appliance.

More specifically, it is contemplated by the present invention that a body member having a main gas supply passageway formed therethrough and having laterally extending primary air passageways and gas feed passageways intersecting the main gas supply passageway be surrounded by a flame tube in spaced relation thereto and forming therebetween a zone in communication with the main gas supply passageway via the gas feed passageways. Also, formed therein are laterally extending secondary air passageways. The flame tube is axially adjustable in the manner of a movable valve mechanism which opens and closes selected passageways to provide a pencil point flame at one position of adjustment and to provide a heavy duty hard flame of the blow torch type at another position.

Thus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention a single adjustable burner head assembly is advantageously utilized to provide a thin flame suitable for spot or localized heating of an area within more critical limits and a wider, more intense flame for rapidly heating a larger area. The valve actuating mechanism is easy and quick in operation, and the entire burner head assembly is simple and rugged in construction, inexpensive in manufacture, requires few parts and is easily assembled.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a gas burner head assembly which has components adjustable relative to one another to provide a thin pencil point type flame and a heavy duty hard flame of the blow torch type selectively in the same unit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a burner head assembly comprising a burner body member having air and gas feed passageways formed therein, a flame tube surrounding the body member and movable relative thereto and having formed thereon a valve portion suitable for opening and closing selected passageways to change the shape and the intensity of the flame and a flame tube actuating mechanism to selectively position the valve portion to control the flame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a burner head with a movable flame tube mounted thereon and selectively positionable on the burner head to adjust the size and intensity of the gas flame.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a burner head having air and gas feed passageways formed therein, the opening and closing of which affect the flame to provide respectively a pencil point type flame and a heavy duty flame, a simple, slidably adjustable flame tube operable as a valve mechanism to open and close selected passageways and a simply constructed and easily operated valve actuating mechanism for selectively controlling the position of the valve mechanism or flame tube.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an easily accessible and operable valve control mechanism for a burner head having a flame tube movably operable as an adjustable valve for controlling gas feed whereby the size and intensity of the gas flame can be easily and quickly controlled.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example only.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a burner head assembly incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the burner head assembly of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the burner head assembly of FIGURE 1 showing the relatively movable parts adjusted to provide a thin pencil point type flame for spot or localized heating;

FIGURE 4 is similar to FIGURE3 but illustrates the parts of the burner head assembly adjusted to provide a heavy duty, hard flame of the blow torch type;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a burner head assembly incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side view of another embodiment of the present invention with portions shown in section for clarity;

FIGURE 7 is a section view taken substantially along lines VIIVII of FIGURE 6 with portions of the center section of the former head assembly shown in phantom for orientation purposes and with the burner head assembly adjusted to provide a heavy duty flame; and

FIGURE 8 is similar to FIGURE 7 but illustrates the burner head assembly adjusted to provide a thin, pencil point type flame.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to the drawings and to FIGURES 14 in particular, a burner head assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is illustrated generally at reference numeral 10 and comprises a main gas supply tube 11, a burner head body member 12 connected to the tube 11, an adjustably movable flame tube 13 carried on the body member 12 and a flame control or actuating lever 14 adapted to control the adjustment of the flame tube 13 for providing a pencil point type flame or a heavy duty flame at the burning end .of the assembly 10.

The main supply tube 11 comprises an elongated cylindrical tube having side walls 16 defining an axial passageway 17 and threaded at one end thereof as at 18. In the embodiment illustrated the tube 11 is bent to form an angle portion 19 for facility in use but it is apparent that a straight run of tube or a tube formed in other configurations may be effectively utilized depending upon the particular application .of the assembly.

The burner head body member 12 is particularly characterized as comprising an elongated cylindrically shaped article having an outer peripheral wall 20 axially aligned with respect to the threaded portion 18 of the tube 11 and centrally apertured as at 21 to form a main gas supply passageway 22 extending therethrough from an inner or inlet end wall 23 to an outer end wall at the outlet end of the body member as at 24.

The aperture 21 more particularly comprises a counterbored passage including a portion 26 extending from the inner wall 23 and threaded to receive the complementarily threaded portion 18 of the tube 11, a somewhat reduced central portion 27 and an outer end portion 28, reduced still more in cross section to form a discharge nozzle. The three portions of the aperture 21 have successively smaller circular diameters. Situated within the central portion 27 is an orifice block 29 dimensioned to impart a predetermined pressure drop of the gas across the orifice block and thereby to provide a measure of control of the rate of gas flow to the burner head body member 12.

Extending transversely or radially through the body member 12 and intersecting the central portion 27 of the aperture 21 are plural angularly or circumferentially spaced gas feed passageways as at 36. Also extending through the body member 12 and intersecting the central portion 27 and axially spaced in the direction of the inner wall 23 with respect to the gas feed passageways 36 are a plurality of radially extending angularly spaced plural primary air passageways 37. The passageways 36 and 37 are constructed and disposed in accordance with the principles of the present invention to provide air and gas flow paths and open respectively through ports 38 and 39 through the side wall of the body member 12.

In order to selectively open and close ports 38 of the gas feed passageways 36 to produce a resultant change in size and intensity of the gas flame in accordance with the principles of this invention, and in order to provide proper combustion of the air and gas mixture, the flame tube 13 is particularly characterized as comprising an elongated cylindrically-shaped tubular side wall 40 forming an aperture 41 and dimensioned to circumferential-1y surround and to be concentrically and axially aligned with the side wall 20 of the body member 12 for relative axial movement with respect thereto.

7 An inner face 42 of the flame tube side wall 40 is radially outwardly spaced relative to the side wall 20 of the body member 12 to provide an annular axially extending flow path 43 therebetween and an inner portion 44 of the side wall 40 provides a radially inwardly extending circumferentially continuous protuberance or land portion 46 having a cylindrically-shaped axially extending side wall 47 for receiving the side wall 20 of the body member 12 in snug sliding engagement.

In order to provide guide means for supporting the flame tube 13, an annularly shaped guide ring member 48 is axially spaced from the tube and fixedly connected thereto by plural axially extending circumferentially spaced connector bars 49 (FIGURE 1), and it will be noted that the axial space between a back wall 50 and a front wall 51 of the flame tube 12 and the ring member 48 respectively is greater than the diameter of ports 39 of the primary air holes 37.

The land portion 44 of the flame tube 13 comprises an end wall 52 which forms a back wall for the flow path 43 between the flame tube 13 and the body member 12. Referring to FIGURE 3, the flame tube 13 is illustrated in position relative to the body member 12 whereby a thin pencil point type flame indicated pictorially at reference numeral 53 projects outwardly from an open end 57 of a combustion chamber 54 situated within a portion 56 of the flame tube extending beyond the outlet end 24 of the body member 12. The pencil point type flame 53 is comprised of a thin sharply pointed center portion 58 enveloped by a soft blue flame 59. A forward tip 58a of the center portion 58 is the point of concentration of the heat in the flame 53. Users of the torch frequently require the pencil point type of flame for directing concentrated heat at a point of utilization.

It will be noted that to provide the pencil point type of flame of FIGURE 3, the tube 13 is axially positioned on the body member 12 so the land portion 46 is situated between ports 38 of the gas feed passage-ways 36 and the ports 39 of the primary air passageways 37, while obstructing neither of these groups of ports. A plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced secondary air.

passageways 60 are formed in the flame tube 13 substantially centrally thereof, and in the position of the flame tube illustrated in FIGURE 3, the passageways 60 are situated axially inwardly relative to the outlet end 24 of the body member 12.

When the burner head components are adjustably positioned as shown in FIGURE 3, the main gas supply enters the burner head 10 through the tube 11 and past the orifice block 29 in the aperture 21. An aspirating efiect is set up by the gas flow in the primary air passageways 37 and a flow of ambient air is induced therethrough into the central portion 27 of the aperture 21 to admix with the gas.

The ports 38 of the gas feed passageways 36 are in open communication with the flow path 43 and permit the flow of a quantity of air-gas mixture from aperture 21 through flow path 43 and into the combustion chamber 54, and an aspirating eflect is induced in the secondary air passageways 60 by the air-gas mixture flowing in flow path 43 to draw ambient air through the secondary air passageways 6t and into the combustion chamber 54.

If a heavy duty flame is desired wherein the flame pattern is diifused, it is contemplated by the present invention that the flame tube 13 be adjustably positioned relative to the body member 12 to provide a heavy duty flame 61 characterized by a much larger, somewhat indistinct blue cone 62 surrounded by a hard flame of the blow torch type as at 63. The flame 61 is usually employed by users desiring to rapidly heat larger areas where heating precision is not required. It will be noted that the flame tube 13 has been moved in FIGURE 4 axially outwardly relative to the body member 12 so the land portion 44 thereof closes the ports 38 of the gas feed passageways and positions the secondary air passageways 50 outwardly of the oulet 24 of the body member 12. The guide ring 48 is also shown relocated on the opposite side of the primary air passageways 37 so the gas traveling through aperture 21 draws ambient air through passageways 3-7 to provide a combustible admixture with the gas. This admixture, without the addition of air through gas feed pasageways 36, is discharged out of the burning end 24.

and into the chamber 54, where it induces ambient air through passageways 60 to become admixed with the already-burning gas in the combustion chamber to provide a heavy duty type flame 61.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, means are provided for alternatively selectively positioning and locking the flame tube 13 and the land portion or valve 44 thereof to provide the pencil point flame of FIGURE 3 or the heavy duty flame of FIG' URE 4.

Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the flame control or actuating lever 14 takes the form of an elongated strip member 64 which extends axially in overlying relation to the burner head assembly and is connected to the flame tube 13 by a suitable fastener such as a threaded screw 66. A bottom surface thereof abuttingly engages an outer wall 68 of the guide member 48 as well as an outer wall 69 of an annularly shaped lever support collar 70 surrounding the tube 11.

In order to selectively axially position the flame control lever 14 and the flame tube 13 connected thereto, the lever 14 has formed therein an elongated slot 71 having an axially elongated portion 72 and a pair of transverse notches 73 and 74 at opposite ends. Extending through the slot 71 is a stud 76 threaded into the lever support collar 70 and having a head portion 77 overlying the edges of the slot 71.

The flame tube 13 is selectively adjusted from the position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 3 to that illustrated in FIGURE 4 by loosening the stud 76 and angularly shifting the actuating lever 14 and the flame tube 13 out of a first locked position wherein the stud 76 is seated in notch or detent 74. The tube 13 is then axially adjusted to the length of the slot 71. To relock the flame tube 13 in adjusted position the tube 13 and lever 14 are angularly shifted to seat the stud 76 in the notch or detent 73. The stud 76 is then turned tight, if desired. 7

Referring to FIGURE 5, wherein parts similar to those of FIGURES 1-4 are given the same reference numerals but in the 200 series, another form of adjustment means is illustrated wherein the cylindrically-shaped side wall 220 of the body member 212 is externally threaded as at 78 for engagement with a complementarily threaded inner wall 79 of the guide member 248 and side wall 247 of the land :portion 244. By screw threading the flame tube 213 relative to the body member 212, relative axial position is provided therebetween.

Referring to FIGURES 6-8, wherein parts similar to those of FIGURES 1-4 are given the same reference numerals in the 300 series, another form of adjustment means is illustrated wherein an annularly shaped support collar 80 apertured as at 81 is securely fastened to the tube 319 by means of a threaded set screw 83 in axially spaced relation to the lever support 369. A portion 84 of the support member 80 is flattened as at 86 to form a shoulder surface for receiving a washer 87.

Situated outwardly adjacent the washer 87 is an axially extending elongated actuating lever 88 having flat parallel opposite faces 89 and 90. As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the lever 88 has a tapering configuration comprising a pair of converging side walls 91 and 91a and curved end portions, somewhat resembling a tear drop shape.

A forward end 92 of the actuating lever 88 overlies the guide member 348 and is pivotally connected thereto by means of a threaded screw 93 extending through an aperture 94 formed in the actuating lever 88 and received in a complementarily threaded aperture 96 of the guide member 348. A rear portion 97 of the actuating lever 88 is circularly apertured as at 98 to receive a complemental cam ring 99 having flat lparallel opposite faces 100 and 101 extending coplanar with faces 89 and 90 respectively of the actuating lever 88.

In order to provide axial movement of the actuating lever '88 for imparting linear movement to the flame tube 313, an adjustment knob 103 is situated adjacent the actuating lever 88 and comprises a flat bearing surface 104 abutting face 89 of the actuating lever 88-.

The adjustment knob 103 comprises a substantially cylindrically-shaped portion 106 having a .pair of radially extending circumferentially spaced index projections or finger members 107 and 108 and is centrally apertured as at 109 relative to the cylindrically-shaped portion 106 for receiving therein a shaft formed by a bolt member 110.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, the cam ring 99 has formed therein aperture 111 eccentrically offset with respect to the axis of the shaft 110. Referring particularly to FIGURE 6, the bolt 110 extends through the aperture 111 and a central aperture 113 formed in the washer 87, and into an aperture 114 formed in the support member 80 and threaded at 116 to receive a threaded portion 117 on the bolt.

In order to provide corotation of the adjustment knob 103 and the cam ring 99, a connecting stud or pin 118 extends through a smaller aperture 112 in the cam ring 99 from an aligned aperture 119 formed in the adjustment knob 103. The cam ring 99 has a peripheral camming surface 99a which engages the edges of the aperture 98 in the lever 88. Thus, upon rotation of the cam ring 99, the lever 88 will be axially adjusted.

For example, referring to FIGURES 6 and 7, the adjustment knob 103 is positioned such that the stud 118 is situated on one axial side of the bolt 109. The actuating lever 88 is, therefore, forwardly extended to move the flame tube 313 forwardly or outwardly relative to the body member 12 thereby to produce a hard flame of the blow torch type from the open end of the flame tube. Subsequent rotation of the adjustment knob 103 through 180 results in an axially backward movement of the flame tube 313 relative to the body member 12, as best shown in FIGURE 8, wherein the stud 118 is on the opposite axial side of the bolt 109 to provide a pencil point flame at the end of the flame tube 313.

It will be appreciated that the support member is dimensioned such that the flat surface of the actuating lever 88 slidably engages and is supported by the outer wall 370 of the support 369. The finger members 107 and 108 provide visual indication of the flame setting of the burner head assembly and may cooperate with suitable indicia means identifying the positions of the flame tube 313.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a gas burning torch for producing two distinct flame pat-terns in a single structure, a gas burner head assembly comprising,

an elongated burner body member having a main passage extending axially therethrough for receiving gas from a source at increased pressure and for discharging the gas at an outlet end thereof,

a tubularly shaped flame tube surrounding portions of said body member and extending beyond the outlet end thereof,

said flame tube being radially spaced from said body member and being open at the outlet end thereof and being closed at the opposite end thereof about said body member,

first and second axially spaced passageway means formed in said body member and extending transversely relative to said main passage,

said first passageway means communicating said main passage with ambient air outside said body member and said second passageway means delivering air-gas mixture from said main passage to said flame tube,

valve means formed on said flame tube for slidably carrying said flame tube on said body member and for selectively opening said second axially spaced passageway means into said flame tube whereby a pencil point type flame is formed at said outlet end when said second axially spaced passageway means is open to said flame tube and a heavy duty blow torch type flame is formed at said outlet end when said second axially spaced passageway means is closed, and

valve actuating means connected to said valve means for selectively actuating said valve means.

2. The gas burning torch as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve actuating means comprises means selectively retaining said flame tube in a first axial position to form a pencil point type flame and in a second axial position to form a blow torch type flame.

3. In a gas burning torch as defined in claim 2, said retaining means comprising cooperating threads on said body member and on said land portion of said flame tube for screwing said flame tube between and for retaining said flame tube at said first and said second axial positions.

4. In a gas burning torch as defined in claim 2, said retaining means comprising,

a radially extending pin member connected to said body member, and

an elongated actuating lever connected to said flame tube and overlying said pin member and having an axial groove including a pair of axially spaced detents formed therein for receiving said pin member to retain said flame tube alternatively at said first and said second axial positions.

5. In a gas burning torch as defined in claim 2, said retaining means comprising,

an elongated actuating lever connected to said flame tube, and

means including an adjustable eccentric cam mechanism interconnecting said actuating lever and said body member for moving said flame tube between and for retaining said flame tube at said first and said second axial positions.

6. In a gas burning torch for producing two distinct flame patterns in a single structure, a gas burner head assembly comprising,

an elongated body member having'a main axial gas passage extending therethrough for receiving gas from a source at increased pressure and for discharging the gas at an outlet end thereof,

means forming a plurality of radial passageways in said body member intersecting said gas passage, at least one of said radial passageways communicating said gas passage to air ambient said body member,

a supply gas tube connected to said body member,

a support member mounted on said gas tube,

a cylindrical flame tube surrounding said body member in radially spaced relation thereto,

a radially inwardly extending land portion formed on said flame tube and engaging said body member for axially slidably mounting said flame tube on said body member,

said land portion being operable in response to axial movement thereof to develop a valving action by selectively communicating selected ones of said radial passageways with said flame tube to provide a pencil point type flame and a heavy duty flame respectively,

an elongated actuating lever connected to said flame tube for providing axial movement thereto,

an adjustment knob rotatably mounted on said support member, and

a cam ring 'rotatably mounted on said support member and eccentrically and corotatably connected to said adjustment knob,

said cam ring operatively engageable with said actuating lever to impart axial movement thereto and to said flame tube in response to rotation of said cam ring to selectively axially position said land portion relative to said passageways.

7. In a gas burning torch for producing two distinct flame patterns in a single structure, a gas burner head assembly comprising,

an elongated body member having a main axial gas passage extending therethrough for receiving gas from a source at increased pressure and for discharging the gas at an outlet end thereof,

means forming a plurality of radial passageways in said body member intersecting said gas passage, at least one of said radial passageways communicating said gas passage to air ambient said body member,

a supply gas tube connected to said body member,

a gas member mounted on said gas tube,

a cylindrical flame tube surrounding said body member in radially spaced relation thereto,

a radially inwardly extending land portion formed on said flame tube and engaging said body member for axially slidably mounting said'flame tube on said body member,

said land portion being operable in response to axial movement thereofto develop a valving action by communicating selected ones of said passageways with said flame tube to provide a pencil point type flame and a heavy duty flame respectively,

an elongated actuating lever connected to said flame tube and overlying said support member for providing axial movement to said flame tube,

means forming a circular aperture in said actuating lever adjacent said support member,

an adjustment knob situated adjacent said actuating lever,

shaft means extending through said aperture and fixedly connected to said support member for rotatably journalling said adjustment knob centrally thereof,

a circular cam ring received in said aperture,

said shaft means extending through said cam ring in axially offset relation thereto for eccentrically journalling said cam ring, and

a pin member rotatably interconnecting said adjustment knob and said cam ring in ofiset relation to said shaft means for providing corotation of said adjustment knob and said cam ring,

whereby rotation of said adjustment knob imparts rotative and axial movement to said cam ring which in turn imparts axial movement to said actuating lever and said flame tube to selectively axially position said land portion relative to said passageways.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,669,631 5/1928 Smith 1581 l8 X 1,791,565 2/1931 Killam 158-418 X 1,943,859 1/1934 Fisher 158-116 1,973,371 9/1934 Charles et a1.

2,073,448 3/1937 Fruth et a1. 158-109 2,104,317 1/1938 Cohrs 15999 2,483,081 9/1949 Wrigley 15899 2,720,257 10/1955 Lynes 158-99 3,198,239 8/1965 Webster 15833 X JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A GAS BURNING TORCH FOR PRODUCING TWO DISTINCT FLAME PATTERNS IN A SINGLE STRUCTURE, A GAS BURNER HEAD ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED BURNER BODY MEMBER HAVING A MAIN PASSAGE EXTENDING AXIALLY THERETHROUGH FOR RECEIVING GAS FROM A SOURCE AT INCREASED PRESSURE AND FOR DISCHARGING THE GAS AT AN OUTLET END THEREOF, A TUBULARLY SHAPED FLAME TUBE SURROUNDING PORTIONS OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE OUTLET END THEREOF, SAID FLAME TUBE BEING RADIALLY SPACED FROM SAID BODY MEMBER AND BEING OPEN AT THE OUTLET END THEREOF AND BEING CLOSED AT THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF ABOUT SAID BODY MEMBER, FIRST AND SECOND AXIALLY SPACED PASSAGEWAY MEANS FORMED IN SAID BODY MEMBER AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY RELATIVE TO SAID MAIN PASSAGE, SAID FIRST PASSAGEWAY MEANS COMMUNICATING SAID MAIN PASSAGE WITH AMBIENT AIR OUTSIDE SAID BODY MEMBER AND SAID SECOND PASSAGEWAY MEANS DELIVERING AIR-GAS MIXTURE FROM SAID MAIN PASSAGE TO SAID FLAME TUBE, VALVE MEANS FORMED ON SAID FLAME TUBE FOR SLIDABLY CARRYING SAID FLAME TUBE ON SAID BODY MEMBER AND FOR SELECTIVELY OPENING SAID SECOND AXIALLY SPACED PASSAGEWAY MEANS INTO SAID FLAME TUBE WHEREBY A PENCIL POINT TYPE FLAME IS FORMED AT SAID OUTLET END WHEN SAID SECOND AXIALLY SPACED PASSAGEWAY MEANS IS OPEN TO SAID FLAME TUBE AND A HEAVY DUTY BLOW TORCH TYPE FLAME IS FORMED AT SAID OUTLET END WHEN SAID SECOND AXIALLY SPACED PASSAGEWAY MEANS IS CLOSED, AND VALVE ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ACTUATING SAID VALVE MEANS. 